Omaha daily bee., 1887-05-15

seen, and which would be worthy of uni
versal attention. The republics of Mexico
and of Central and South America could
contribute vastly to the objects OF interest
and attraction. There would be more
good and more glory from a successful
exposition containing the contributions
of republics only than from one under
the circumstances which derived any
large part of ITS attractions and
its interest from the products Of nations
not in sympathy with republican institu-
tions 1t would demonstrate that indus
trial progress and achievement in all de-
partments of art can and do flourish in
countries whose people govern even
more prosperously than in the nations
where they are aided and encouraged by
royal or imperial bounties. The French
exposition should be purely republican
in its character, and from practical
point of view solely it would probably be
more successful for being so.
The idea of worlds fair in this coun-
try in 1892, to commemorate the 40Oth
anniversary of the discovery of America,
has received some consideration, SO far
as we have observed wholly of q
favorable nature. As such an en-
terprise would be entirely free from any
political objections, no nation could on
that score, as in the case OF the French
exposition, decline to participate in it,.
That the anniversary of the landing of
Columbus on the shore of. America would
from sentimental point of view be an
ausplcious time to hold worlds fair as
a commemorative event will not be ques-
toned. What are the probabilities from
the practical point of view? The exhibi-
ton of 1876 was success, and all the
conditions that rendered it so will be
greatly enlarged and augmented IN 1899.
1t is not excessive to estimate the popula-
ton of the country at that Of 75,0)0,O0O,
or in the ncighborhood of fifty per cent
| more than in 1876. In every department
of industrial enterprise and achievement
the nation will have made an even
greater advance. Progress in the
arts and in science has kept pace with all
other forms of growth. Not only would
every American department exhibited in
| 1876 be greatly improved in 1892, but
| there would be number of additional
10 llluSlTdJc WudJ JlS INV GU
| tive genius of the American people had
| accomplished since they invited the
| world to witness what they had done dur
ing hundred years of government.
" th much larger population and n
more widely distributed prosperity from
which to draw the financial support of
such an exhibition, its success in this re-
spect cannot be matter of the least
doubt. About 10, 600, 900 people visited the
exhibition in 1876. Certainly half as many
more, and probably double the number,
would visit worlds fair in 1892 that
possessed the attractions possible to it.
| These exhibitions have value
more or less important, as incentives to
trade. They are grand advertisements
of a peoples attainments and skill.
which are shown at their best They
are useful also as educators. From all
points of view, in short. these national
or International exhibitions, held at in
tervals far enough apart to assure sue
cess, are beneficial. There appears to
be the best of reasons in favor of such a
one to commemorate the discovery OF
America.